Autom



Jan. s, 1928. ,1, 655,129

L. BLACKMORE ET AL AUTOMOBILE SHIPPING DEVICE Filed June 1.3. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Jan. 3, 1928..

1,655,129 L. BLACKMORE ET AL AUTOMOBILE SHIPPING mmcs Filed June 15, 1924 2 Sheets-sheet 2 Patented Jan. 3, 1928.

UNITED" STATES insane PAT NT orrlcrz.

LLOYD BLACKMORE, OF HIGHLAND PARK, AND MONTGOMERY W. ,MCGONKEY, OF

FERNDALE, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOIRS T0 TROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION on GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, OF DE- DELAWARE.

AUTOMOBILE snirrine nnvrcn.

Application filed June 13,

This invention relates to the shipment of automobiles in freight cars, and is illustrated as embodied inseveral diflerentmodifica tions of structures for supporting or decking an upper automobile with clearance beneath for a secontl automobile on the floor.

An important object of the invention is to provide treight cars with permanent auto mobile-supporting structures or decks, in lieu of the usual temporary wooden decks which must be replaced each time the cars are used, at a considerable cost and with more or less damage to the walls and floors by the driving and withdrawal of from 7 O to 100 nails for each deck. Preferably the permanent decks are arrangedto be folded against the side walls of the freight car when not in use, and it isin practice very desirable that they be provided with hub or axle supportswhichare adjustable to carry automobiles of diflerent wheel bases. While the invention relates primarily to permanent decks, we show in one modification a tempo rary wooden deck to illustratethe application to such decks of some of the principles of the invention. 1

The-above and other objects and features of the invention, including various novel combinations and desirable particular con structions, will be apparent from the following description of the illustrative embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic vertical section through a freight car, showing in end elevation a deck and an automobile supported by the deck;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section through the freight car just below the roof, showing the deck in top plan with the position of the automobile indicated in dotted lines.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of one end of the deck, looking outwardly from the center of the freight car, and with the positionof the automobile indicated by dotted lines;

Figure 1 is an end View of the deck as folded when not in use;

Figure 5 is a View partly in top plan and partly in horizontal section of a longitudinally-adjustable hub support which can be used in lieu of those shown in Figures 1 and 2; 1

Figure dis a view, partly in side elevation 1924. sen-a1 No. 719,759.

and partlyin vertical section, of the hub supportv of Figure 5;

Figure 7 isan end elevation of the hub .upport of Figures 5 and 6, with the position of the hub indicated in dotted lines. In the arrangement shown in Figures 1 1, the deckis permanentlyinstalled in a freight car having a'roof 10, a floor 12, and side walls let. The deck comprises a supporting framework including a longitudinally-extending pair of metal tubes or rods 16 and 18 adjacent each side wall 14, tube 16 being rigidly secured in two brackets 20. and 22 fastoned to the side wall. by a pair of arms 2 1 and 26, each arm being a channel iron with its opposite flanges secured at one end to tube 18, which passes through openings in the flanges, and with the flanges at their opposite ends having openings sleeved onithe tube 16. The arms 24 and 26 are braced by diagonal tension rods 28. Arms 24; and 26,with tube 18 and rods 28, swing, upwardly against the side wall 141 about the rod 16 asan axis when not in use (Figure 4), and may be secured in any desired manner, as by interengaging hooks 30. lVhcn in use, the weight of the automobile is takenby legs 32 and 34: of angle iron, pivoted on vopposite ends of tube 18 outside of the arms 2 1 and 26, and fastened down by notches 36 engaging projections 38 on wall 14 andheld by blocks 10 nailed to floor 12.

In order to hold automobiles of different wheel bases, hub supports in the form of wooden arms or blocks 42 are provided, each being notched at its outer end to receive one of the hubs, the hub being secured in the notch in any desired manner, as by a metal strap (not shown) encircling the top of the hub and nailed to the arm 42. The arms 42 are intended to be used once and then discarded, and are cut to provide for the proper size of hub and to allow for the proper distance between the ends of opposite hubs. Each arm 12 is secured by four U- bolts 4.4 to two saddles 1.6 and 4:8 sleeved respectively on tubes 16 and 18. Set screws or the like (not shown) may be provided for fastening the saddles to the tubes in adjusted position.

Instead of the wooden arms 42, the arms shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7 may be provided. Each of these arms comprises a pair Tube 18 is carried loo of saddles and 52 sleeved respectively on tubes 16 and I8, and secured by U-bolts 54: to an I-bea1n 56. A pair of channel irons 58 and 60, slotted at 62, are adjustably securedto opposite sides of theI beam by bolts 6%, to allow a limited adjustment to fit automobiles of diiferent widths between the outer ends oi opposite hubs. The channel irons 58 and 60 carry an openended sup porting case 66 for a woodblock 68 recessed for the hub 70, which can be secured therein by a metal strap, not shown, or; in any other desired manner. The use of wood blocks 68 provides for hubs of different sizes and shapes interchangeable blocks are readily provided and one set may be discardedv when difierent blocks are to be substituted.

lVhile several illustrative embodiments have been described in. detail, it is not our intention to. limit the scopeof the invention to those particular embodiments, or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims. 7

We claim:

1. A freight car comprising, in combina. tion, side walls anda. floor, supporting legs extending upwardly from the floor, and longitudinally-extending automobileesupporting members secured to and resting on said legs, the'legs and said members being foldable against the side walls when not in use.

2. A freight. car comprising, in combination, side walls, a pair of supporting membe'rs adjacent each wall, onev extending along the wall and the other substantially parallel thereto and spaced inwardly of the car,and automobile hub-supporting arms, secured to each pair of supporting members.

3. A freight car comprising, in combinaemmas tion, side walls, a pair of supporting members adjacent each wall, one extending along the wall and the other substantially parallel thereto and spaced inwardly ot the car, and automobile hul'i-supportine' arms adjustable lengthwise of each pair oi supporting: members to carry automobiles ot diilerent wheel bases. a

4'. A freight car con'iprising, in combination, side walls, a pair of supporting members adjacent each wall. one extending; alone the wall and the other substantially parallel thereto and spaced inwardly ol the car, crossed diagonal braces connecting each pair of supporting members, and automobile hubsupporting arms :ecured to each pair 0t supporting; members. i

5. A freight car comprising, in combination. tour wood blochs recessed to receive the tour hubs of an automobile, supports in opposite sides ot the car, and means to recure the blocks to the supports and to permit adjustment of the blocks lengthwise of the car to hold automobiles 0t diliercntwheel. bases.

6. A freight car conn rising, in combination, opposite side walls and a floor, a supporting bracket secured adjacent each of the side walls and projecting outwardly therefrom, hub carriers, and means for .slidabl and adjustably mounting the hub carriers on the brackets permitting;- adjustment of the carriers longitudinally of the car to support by the hubs-off the floor automobiles of different wheel bases.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures.

LLOYD BLAGKMORE. MONTGOMERY W MCCONKEY. 

